We typically voice our thankfulness for things like family, health, a home, a means for earning a livelihood, material possessions, and whatever makes us feel happy. If you or someone in your family has suffered from a serious illness or disease, you know the simple gift of another day is more than enough cause for thankfulness.
The important question is, to whom are we thankful? The universe or the cosmos? Lady Luck? Our own determined efforts, or the kindness of others? We certainly are entitled to feel pleased with the fruits of our labors? Many of us wouldn’t be where we are today without the help and encouragement of key individuals in our lives. But isn’t this the time to, as the old hymn states, “Praise God from whom all blessings flow?”
Since you have many better things to do this day than just reading through the meanderings of a pensive blogger/columnist, let me simply cite a couple of passages from the Scriptures that remind us of where our greatest thankfulness should focus.
The first is Psalm 100, which in just five verses can point our expressions of thanksgiving in the right direction:
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100:1-5).
Other fitting passages to consider for our Thanksgiving Day musings are found in Psalm 107. It starts with these words: “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say this – those He has redeemed from the hand of the foe, those He gathered from the lands, from east to west, from north and south” (Psalm 107:1-3).
After recounting some of God’s acts of mercy and provision for the Israelites, the psalmist continues, “Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for men. Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of His works with songs of joy” (Psalm 107:21-22).
While we are pausing to reflect on and give thanks for our blessings – loved ones, our “stuff,” and another day of life as another year winds to a close – it would be wise to also offer thanks to God whom Revelation 4:8 describes as, “the Lord God Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” Happy Thanksgiving!
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